Seven years or more ago, I began replacing burnt out incandescent bulbs with newer LED bulbs. At first, our lighting became a hodgepodge of incandescent and LED bulbs from different manufacturers, but we eventually settled on Duracell bulbs for every can light and overhead fixture. I do not regret it.
I still have to replace bulbs now and then, but it is a chore that occurs once or twice a year now rather than twice a month as it was when we had only incandescent bulbs.
The light fixture in our hallway has been flickering when I turn it on; this has gone on for at least a month. I’ve been procrastinating about fixing it.
Me: “Do you think you can help me replace a bulb in the hallway fixture?”
Susan: “Of course. Now, how many doctors does it take to change a light bulb?”
Me: “Only two, if they are retired.”
After bringing a three-step stool to the fixture, I disassembled the semi-flush fixture. Susan took the fixture parts as I disassembled them; it is good to have a partner in such endeavors.
When the fixture’s frosted glass bonnet was fully disassembled, I discovered that the flickering was not due to a bad bulb but rather to a bulb not properly seated in its receptacle. A half turn of the bulb fixed the problem. Voila!
I reassembled the fixture and put away our box of spare bulbs. It’s amazing what two retired physicians, with six years of medical education each, can accomplish when properly motivated.